College Academy Courses

WLHS offers several programs in which students can receive college credit. These courses are taken at Wilde Lake High.

Career Research and Development

Career Research and Development is an approved Career and Technology Education program and meets the CTE graduation requirement if taken in the sequence of CRD I, CRD II, and Site-Based Work Experience. Any interested student may take CRD I as a general elective. Career Research and Development empowers students to create a vision of their future through quality academic coursework, progressive career development, and appropriate work opportunities. After a battery of interest, aptitude, and personality assessments, students identify their assets and strengths and apply that knowledge as they investigate Howard County Public School System academy programs, careers, and postsecondary options. Students participating in the Career Research and Development program focus on demonstrating competency in 21st century learning skills. Students who successfully complete the program demonstrate mastery of learning, thinking, communication, technology and interpersonal skills. Students will develop an individualized portfolio containing examples of completed assignments and/or special projects. Students who successfully complete the Career Research and Development program sequence, with a grade of B or higher in academy courses, may be eligible for credits at Howard Community College.

Culinary Science Academy

Employing an estimated 12 million people, the restaurant industry is the largest and fastest growing private-sector employer in the United States. Culinary Science Academy students will receive a broad introduction to this dynamic industry through hands-on instruction using ProStart, an industry-directed curriculum. Students in the Culinary Science Academy will have opportunities to participate in industry sponsored events and competitions and will receive individual mentoring from restaurant and hospitality professionals. Upon successful completion of the program, students will have the opportunity to take a national certification examination and to apply for National Restaurant Association Education Foundation scholarships toward postsecondary study. Through a special partnership with Howard Community College's Center for Hospitality and Culinary Studies, seniors enrolled in Advanced Culinary Science and Restaurant Operations are eligible to be dually enrolled in the three-credit college course, Food Prep I (HMGT 120).

Engineering: Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Academy

The high school Engineering Academy is a four-year sequence of five courses which, when combined with traditional mathematics and science courses, introduces students to the scope, rigor and discipline of engineering prior to entering college. In grades 9, 10 and 11, students build a foundation of pre-engineering knowledge and skills. In the senior year, students take PLTW Engineering Design and Development, where they design and build solutions to authentic engineering problems. These self-directed projects are mentored by engineers. For more information, go to www.pltw.org.In this program, students may be eligible for articulated credit with many four-year colleges and universities

Marketing Academy

Marketing Academy students will have the opportunity to focus their studies on the fundamental principles of marketing. Students will develop marketing plans by analyzing customer needs and the market environment. Product development and pricing strategies, advertising and promotion planning, product distribution, and strategies for conducting market research will be explored in depth. Students will have the opportunity to investigate and analyze current marketing trends and campaigns, including recent introduction of e-marketing. Through a special partnership with Howard Community College's Business Management program, students enrolled in Principles of Business and Management, the first course in the Marketing Academy, are eligible to be dually enrolled in the three-credit college course, Introduction to Business and Organization (BMGT 100).

Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM)

The Teacher Academy of Maryland is designed for students who intend to pursue a career as an elementary, middle, or high school teacher. Over the next decade America is projected to need at least 2.4 million new teachers. As a system, Howard County Public Schools welcomes our own graduates back to begin their new careers as educators in our schools. Academy students have the opportunity to conduct formal observations, develop and deliver lesson plans in a K-12 setting, and participate in special events and activities with other future educators. Academy coursework focuses on development and learning theory, positive and effective classroom management and discipline, curriculum delivery models, and the creation of developmentally appropriate curriculum and learning environments. Students in the Teacher Academy of Maryland will have the opportunity to participate in pre-professional development activities including visits to classrooms at the elementary through high school levels, internship experiences providing interaction with students of multiple age levels and in multiple subjects, and conferences and workshops sponsored by and designed for educators.